Vivian's vision was flashing. She could hardly hear or move. Her body was numb.

She felt something brush up against her. She saw Skore, although the Banette was barely visible. She reached up and felt his smooth cloth. Vivian shuddered.

She could make out a faint voice, whose owner was lost in the inky black darkness that was beginning to seep into her vision.

"Don't worry, we'll get you to the hospital. Someone get me the stretcher!"

Vivian was confused. Why would she need to go to the hospital. She was perfectly fine right here. The darkness soothed her. It spoke to her, only wanting to cease her worries.

'Let me heal you.'It called.'Let me take you to a better place.'

Vivian sighed a peaceful sigh. 'Take me,' she thought.

A light suddenly pierced her vision, sweeping the darkness away. Beyond the light, she could see her father, her mother, and a familiar Banette. They all wore expressions of worry and hope.

A voice made its way towards her. "Hope," it said. "Do not give up!"

Vivian sighed. "I won't," she managed to say. "I will not fail."

Vivian's father watched the paramedics operate on Vivian carefully. His ex-wife was besides him. Her eyes were on the Banette, who watched Vivian like a hawk. A Dusknir and Sableye had joined it, which had surprised him.

The lead surgeon stood up. "We'll have to transfer her to the Mauville Hospital by helicopter. You two are free to come along."

Vivian's father nodded and put a hand on his ex's shoulder. "Let's go."

Her eyes were still on the Banette. "She made friends with that wretched creature?" she asked softly.

He nodded. "I believe so. Maybe, Susan, it isn't evil like we thought."

"It's a Ghost-type, Phil! They're all evil!"

Phil watched as the Banette unsheathed its claws as a stretcher was bought to Vivian. The Sableye chattered at the Marionette Pokemon. Whatever it said, it seemed to pacify the Banette, as it floated back a bit and let the paramedics lift Vivian's body. A helicopter landed nearby, and the stretcher was put into the helicopter. The lead surgeon motioned for the two to board.

Susan obliged, but Phil stood motionless, eyeing the Banette. It gripped Vivian's inhaler tightly, watching as she was boarded onto the helicopter. Phil took a breath and approached it, scattering the other two ghosts that were with it.

"You want to come with?" he asked, surprising himself as well as the Banette with his words. The Shadow Ball that the Banette had ready to fire dissipated. The ghost tilted its head to the side.

"You can come with," Phil continued, silently willing himself to stop. Half of him willed him to do away with the Banette, to open its zipper and be done with it. But some piece of his mind told him to let the Banette come. It was obviously a friend of Vivian's. He doubted it would hurt them.

The Banette's eyes went from him to the helicopter before returning to him. Its smile widened a bit, and it floated past him to enter the vehicle. Phil followed it.

As soon as she saw the Banette, Susan screamed. The ghost paid no heed to her, floating over to Vivian's limp body. She opened her eyes a bit, and upon seeing the Banette, smiled a small smile. She wrapped her arm around the ghost and closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Susan scowled. "Get that devilish creature away from our daughter."

She stood up and moved towards the pair. This got the Banette's attention, and it floated out of Vivian's grip.

"You! Devil creature!" she pointed at the ghost. "Get away from her."

The Banette settled on the ground and shook its head.

Susan was taken aback. "No? Well, if you won't willingly..."

She opened her purse and grabbed a small pocket knife. "I'll force you."

The Banette began to glow. Susan stared as its appearance shifted in the light. Phil covered his eyes.

After a moment, there was silence. Phil opened his eyes and gaped.

The Banette's appearance had shifted greatly. Its head tail now stood upright, a zipper marking trailing from the tip of it to its left eye. Zippers ran along its body, which had opened to reveal purple appendages. The ghost looked at its body before looking up at Susan. She backed away warily.

"Relax, Susan. It won't hurt you if you don't hurt it," Phil said aloud. The Banette nodded and reverted into its normal state as it took its position with Vivian once more.

A/N: I'm so sorry this was almost two weeks late. I went to Canada and had no chance to work on this, on top of the fact that I got sick. Anyway, thinking there will be one more chapter and then this is done.